A FIREMAN has told how stone-throwing yobs attacked him and his colleagues as they fought a blaze.

Keiran Gillam, based at Manchester Central fire station, described the incident in a blog on the fire service website.

The attack on Dalton Street, Collyhurst, is one of the 166 incidents of verbal abuse and violence reported by fire crews in the year to April.

Mr Gillam said: "We were met by verbal abuse from several youths for no apparent reason.

"They were also threatening to start more fires.

"Later, we were turned out again to the same area to be met by the same youths, this time they were a bit further away but still shouting verbal abuse and then started to throw stones.

"This is the first time in five years I have experienced this. We usually have a very good relationship with the young people in Collyhurst."

The crew called police, who cleared the area to allow them to tackle the blaze. None of the firefighters was hit by the stones.

A brigade spokesman said: "There have been 34 incidents of hostility, which includes everything from spitting to physical assault, in north Manchester from April 2007 to April 2008.

"In that time, there have been 166 incidents across the city.

"By attacking officers or fire engines these people are putting lives at risk.

"To combat this, we have put CCTV cameras on fire engines, which has seen a reduction in such incidents.

"Firefighters have also been given training by the police on how to deal with members of the public who turn hostile.

"They have been trained to read body language and understand their legal rights.

"The majority of people treat us well, they recognise the contribution we make in maintaining their safety, it's just the actions of a small minority that can have a large impact."

Chief Insp. Steve McFarlane, from north Manchester police, said: ""The emergency services have a duty to protect the public and should not have to face obstructive or abusive behaviour.

"It is a criminal offence to hinder the work of any emergency service and offenders will be made an example of."

The Emergency Workers (Obstruction) Act, to protect 999 crews from yobs was introduced in February last year in the wake of the M.E.N's Protect Our Heroes campaign.

Anyone with information on the Collyhurst incident should call police on 0161 8566098 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.